[Variants in the organization of the cervical portion of the human thoracic duct in prenatal ontogeny].

Using macro- and microscopic methods stages of formation, forms of spatial and temporal organization and definitive variants of cervical part of human thoracic duct were studied in 49 5-8 wks old embryos, 120 8.5-36 wks old embryo and 10 human newborns. Variability of structure of thoracic duct cervical part is a reflection of parameters characterizing magistralization of jugular prevertebral lymphatic plexus: its depth (maximum, medium, minimum), topographic variant (medial, lateral, combined) and length (small, moderate, significant). With the aspect genetic 3 types of its organization were distinguished: jugular (51%), subjugular (11.3%) and combined (37.7%). In prematurely born children and newborns jugular type of the duct cervical part is the most favourable for the drainage.